Welcome Back Students!

Tuesday, April 29 was our D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony.  The boys and girls in my classroom exhibited such fine behavior.  I received several compliments on their wonderfulness.  Thank you so much to all the parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors who came out to support us during this event.

We're so proud!

This year we are so honored to have Lauren represent our class at the

 Bi-County Young Authors Conference.

Way to go, Lauren!

School Supply Kits order forms are due Monday, March 17th.   Due to the numerous snow days that we have had, the District calendar has been amended. Please note the following days will be student days of attendance: Monday, April 21 Friday, May 30th-11:30 Dismissal

IN PREPARATION FOR ISAT, WE WILL HAVE AN ISAT SPIRIT WEEK (FEB. 24-27). Here are the days: Monday, Feb. 24-Hats off to you (Wear Hats) Tuesday,Feb. 25-Shine on the test (Wear Sunglasses) Wednesday, Feb. 26- Sock it to the Test (Wear silly/crazy socks) Thursday, Feb. 27-Get plenty of rest for the test (Wear appropriate pajamas)

Due to the numerous snow days that we have had, the District calendar has been amended. Please note that Casimir Pulaski Day, Monday, March 3rd will now be a day of student attendance rather than a school holiday.

Starting February 1st, Red Bud CUSD will implement an option for inclement weather: a one hour delayed start.The following attachment is a link to the guidelines that will be in place if and when those days are used.

Attachment:   Delayed_Start_Memo_to_Parents.pdf

 

Mrs. Roehrkasse's Class Visits 

Cahokia Mounds!

Aren't we a fine looking bunch!  It seems to me that everyone in our class is doing their best to "strike a pose" in this photo.  Despite the dreary day, we really enjoyed our day away from the classroom.  To quote Jeffery, "BEST FIELD TRIP EVER!"

Time for Back to School!

Yes, it certainly is that time of the year.  The time when we say good bye to staying up late and sleeping until noon.  The time when we say good bye to those thoughts of travel and family vacations.  My wish is that you truly enjoyed your summer vacation.  Pictured above is a photo from my summer trip away from home.  My family rented a beach house at Virginia Beach.  What a lovely ten days we had!

Hippo Hippo Hurray...school's out!

Have a safe and fun summer!

(Yes, I know...that's NOT a hippo!)

This week in Five 3!

     Christmas is done, and we are back to school!  This year seems to be flying by, don't you think?

     The middle of winter brings so many lessons to be learned in fifth grade.  Our math lessons center around decimals - everything you EVER wanted to know about decimals!  Right now in our Language Arts classes we are working with verbs.  Ask your fifth grader to show you their Verb Poem.  I am so pleased with the way these turned out.  They are displayed on our lockers right now, but will be returned soon.  Speaking of items being returned soon, the research report, which we labored on for so long, will be in the Monday Mail in a couple weeks.  They look so sharp on our lockers that I'm NOT wanting to take them down!  We have received many compliments on them from all who walk by.

     What made you smile this week?  For me, it was Chase's Verb Poem.  It was the lovely, hand-written thank you card from Calyn. It was the beautifully drawn picture from Anna and the color page from Savannah.

Stay well and stay warm,

Mrs. Roehrkasse

Christmas Program 2012

     I just returned from our annual Christmas program and must say, it was one of THE BEST EVER!  This year's fifth graders have the MOST beautiful voices.  The speakers were perfect, and the dancers were right in step!  

     I could not wait to post a few photos from this wonderful night!

Here is a photo of our talent for the evening!  

Such pretty dresses!

Everyone sang in tune.

Beautiful music!

Such handsome shirts and neckties!

Lovely voices sing Christmas tunes!

 

Our readers are flawless!

Waiting patiently.

After the program, we wait to be picked up.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Red Ribbon Spirit Week!

     What a fun week this has been!  Besides the shortened days due to Parent/Teacher Conferences and the excitement of achievement tests, it has been CRAZY in the fifth grade.  

     Monday was "Wear Your Pajamas to School" Day, and oh, how I wish I had remembered my camera!  So many children participated, and I must admit that coming to school on Tuesday in REAL clothes was tough to do after spending all day Monday in my PJs.

I did have my camera on Thursday to capture of few of the students who dressed up like me on "Dress Like Your Favorite Teacher" Day.  Check out all the little Mrs. Roehrkasses below!

Both Savannah and Emma have me pegged!  

I must find out where these ladies get their shoes!

Lexi and Jaquelin look so sweet, don't they?

And, yes, the boys participated, too.  After seeing how cute Chase looks as me with short hair, I may have to get a new hairstyle!

I just had to post this great photo of Savannah standing at my desk.  She truly looks like me!

     Welcome FALL and welcome to 

Parent/Teacher Conference time!  

I look forward to visiting with all the fifth grade parents very soon and cannot wait to tell you about the many the wonderful things I'm learning from your child.  I really do have the BEST job in the world and am so grateful to teach here at Red Bud Elementary.  This is where I attended school when I was a little girl, and I have such fond memories.  It is my hope that your sons and daughters will enjoy their days spent within the walls and halls of Red Bud Elementary, too.  

See you at the conferences!

Mrs. Roehrkasse

     

PROGRESS REPORT TIME!

Hello to all Five 3 parents!  

     Today First Quarter Progress Reports were sent home with your son or daughter.  My hope is that you are pleased with your child's progress so far in fifth grade.  If you are not, please sign up for a parent teacher conference.  These conferences are the best way to discuss our expectations for the children at Red Bud Elementary.  

     Conference requests were mailed to all students in the district last week.  If, for some reason,  you did not receive one, please phone the school office to arrange an appointment.  There are many good time slots still available.  The phone number is 282-3858.

     I am looking forward to meeting with you all.  Together we can insure your fifth grader's success at Red Bud Elementary.

Field Trip 2012

     What a wonderful time!  I bet you can tell by the photos that Red Bud Elementary fifth grade certainly enjoyed their day at Cahokia Mounds and Soulard Market.  

Aren't they a fine-looking bunch?

 The fresh air must have gotten into them...

Mary and Tara are NEVER like this in the classroom!?

  What nice gentlemen!

 Kimberly poses so sweetly, both solo and with her dad!

Now it's Savannah's turn to pose for the camera.

 Doesn't Collin have a nice smile?

 Andrew strikes a pose at the top of Monk's Mound.

Damian takes a break before heading back down.

 Katelyn and Abigail look like they enjoyed the climb!

The trip down was SO much easier than the trip up!

A special thank you to ALL the parents who joined us on today's field trip.

Sincerely,

 Mrs. Roehrkasse

     This week we will visit Cahokia Mounds for our yearly field trip.  We are all very excited and look forward to this day every year.  It is incredible that we live so close to this ancient lost civilization.  Are you aware that there is a photo of Monk's Mound in our social studies book?  Go look at page 61!  The page has some interesting information that we'll learn more about when we're there.

     

     A special thank you goes out to all the parents who have volunteered to go with us this year.  We sincerely wish we could take you ALL on the buses with us.  Since that is not possible, we certainly hope you join us by driving yourself or carpooling with other parents.  After our picnic lunch at Cahokia Mounds, we will head over to Soulard Market for a little shopping.  

    I pulled the photo below out from the archives!  It shows the current seventh graders (I think!) when they were on THEIR fifth grade field trip to Cahokia Mounds.  They are seated at the base of Monk's Mound.  Do you see anybody you recognize?  I hope my current fifth graders will pose for a photo just like this on Friday!

Welcome Back to School!

It's that time of the year!  School supplies are on sale. Children are sporting the latest style of tennis shoes and fashionable new clothes.  Parents are busy packing lunches, making doctor's appointments for physicals, and we are ALL trying to get back into a routine.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you back to school.  The staff at Red Bud Elementary have worked doubly hard this summer preparing for this school year.  We know it's going to be a year to remember!

     This week we celebrated our graduation from the D.A.R.E. Program.  Our class worked very hard and learned so much from Sheriff Mike.  I am positive these children will carry the lessons they learned with them throughout their entire lives.

     A very special congratulations to Gabby and Madison whose essays were chosen to be read during the graduation program.  You rock, girls!

     I cannot forget to thank Sheriff Mike Hoelscher for his continued support of the D.A.R.E. Program in our county, and the time he takes from his busy life to work with my fifth graders. 

   
     Another month is nearly done.  March begins this Thursday and it brings with it our third quarter report cards.  Look for them to be sent home on March 16.

     At this time our thoughts and prayers go out to Sheriff Mike.  While taking down a deer stand, he took a tumble and seriously injured his foot.  We pray that he'll be "back on both feet" very soon.  We truly miss his weekly D.A.R.E. lesson.

     

Thank You Five 3!

     Third Quarter Progress Reports will be sent home this Friday!  Historically, I have found that the third quarter Progress Report grades are lower than the grades of other quarters.  However, this year's fifth graders seem to be the exception.  As I look through my grade book, I see that the "winter blahs" do not seem to be affecting our classroom as much as I usually fear.  For that, I want to send out a giant "Thank You" to all my students and their parents.  I know that maintaining grades does not happen by accident. It takes a lot of work - both at school AND at home.